Gear, Track RacingJohn BuenaventuraJanuary 12, 2021Bikes, Rare Bikes, Kissena

Cinelli Vigorelli RHC: An ultra-rare paint job on a track mainstay

Gear, Track RacingJohn BuenaventuraJanuary 12, 2021Bikes, Rare Bikes, Kissena

My racing journey began on fixed gear bike - perhaps even sparked by a cycling mini-boom of sorts (Comeback 2.0?). On a hot drunken summer night, my trusty urban assault bike was stolen right from under my nose. It’s replacement was a track frame with a flip-flop hub. That first year of road bike re-discovery led to a bit of road racing in the early AM hours and some mid-week track racing. I haven’t been back to the velodrome since that honeymoon period but I’ve been contemplating returning back onto the track ever since.

Which brings us to the bike above. A few years ago my teammate had generously donated and won an auction to benefit a fundraiser set up for future US Olympic hopeful Josh Hartman. The winning bid was for a replica of the 2013 Red Hook Criterium Cinelli Vigorelli awarded to the winner. Though my teammate raced the bike at Kissena a few times, it mostly sat and languished, it’s primary duty to raise funds for Josh’s recovery having been accomplished.

Fast-forward to 2020 - lockdown and social distancing interrupt all forms of human interaction. My teammate was paring down his cycling lifestyle and the Vigorelli was up for grabs. I thought that perhaps with my new WFH schedule, I’d be able to make the odd trip to Kissena Velodrome for a new setting to train in- something new to keep my motivation up during lockdown. Not long after I bought the bike, the Pink Rhino Track team organized also a socially distant TT competition. It was perfect timing.

My first real ride on the bike was on a Saturday when Andrew from Pink Rhino was at the track volunteering to time any participants in their socially distant TT. After a few warmup laps to get used to things, I attempted my run. The bike seemed heavy for something that didn’t have a road group bolted onto it - 16.7 lbs and as stiff as a frame that I have experienced. It felt like a massive board between your legs. The weight and stiffness gave it a very sturdy, boat-like feeling. It was hard to not notice the difference in feel compared to the road bikes I was used to riding.

Where some bikes reveal a complexity in their road feel, the Vigorelli’s ride was forceful and jittery- like it wants to push it’s way past. None of this mattered on the track where a bike’s ability to hold a line on the banking was paramount. On Kissena’s relatively gradual banking, I found it difficult to stay on the black line under power. Perhaps it was down to my lack of experience riding in a velodrome (entirely possible), my on-bike fit by trial and error, or maybe it was because the bike was 1 size too large and this changed my typical center of gravity to one that was unfamiliar to me. I’m not sure what caused it, but when I was really giving it the business, I spent a lot of energy fighting a tendency for the bike to wander up the banking.

Originally my intention for the bike was to swap out the wheels for something more aero and racy, chop the excess steerer tube, and fit a shorter crank- (165). Instead, I just left the bike and changed my touch points. A 110 rather than a 130mm stem, a set of Deda Pista bars in place of the more modern bend of the Cinelli Vai, and my trusty Fizik Antares (the San Marco RHC saddle pictured was stock on the originally spec). I had a set of older and well used Vittoria Open Corsa 25c’s laying about, so I fitted those in place of a very conservative set of Giant branded tires and pronounced it track worthy.